Brothers and sisters in Christ:
Before we begin, I want to say thanks. Thanks to all those that made it to the young adult BBQ at my place last week (don’t worry, if you didn’t make it we’ll do something like this again, either in the late summer or early fall). That was simply a great time to just get together and spend time with fellow disciples of Christ. I am encouraged that our young adult community at Hope, though comprised of all different life stages, can identify with each other on the basic level of friendship. Thank you.
Also, watch out for tomorrow night. We won’t have a regular meeting tomorrow night because of Adventureland. I don’t know who will show, but I’ll be at the gates by 6:30 pm to meet anyone and everyone who wants to hang out. This is another great opportunity for fellowship and a good time together. Admission at the gate is only $20 for the night. The gates close at 10:00 pm I’ve been told.
On to Galatians.
Isn’t it crazy how the Spirit talks to you through God’s Word when you least expect it? Lately I’ve been personally struggling with Christianity’s role in our American culture. What should the Church be involved in? Where are the limits? What lines should we cross or not cross in our discussions about politics and culture? Where do we miss the mark? How do we deal with all the different American narratives? These are big questions, ones which have as many answers as there are people.
But then we get to Galatians, especially chapters 3 through the end, and Paul cuts through the debate to get to the heart of the matter. The 
congregations in Galatia had been under all sorts of influence from people who claimed that, in order to be saved by Jesus, one had to stick to a series of Jewish laws, like circumcision. In essence, people were believing that somehow their “Christianness” was in direct relation to their involvement in Godly activity. They had to prove they were Godly in order to somehow have any assurance that they were saved. And Paul comes into this environment and tears a hole through the whole thing. Paul says that being a Christian has nothing to do with what you do, it has everything to do with faith in the one who has done everything for you. Paul builds a case that God’s people in the OT, the descendants of Abraham, were not God’s people by virtue of what they did. They were God’s people only by virtue of faith. Rightness before God only comes by faith that God keeps His promises. God’s people today are those individuals that are connected to God through faith in God’s promises. In that respect (though there are all sorts of differences across the board, but we won’t go there) nothing’s changed between Abraham and now. Though God’s people were a nation called by God in the OT, they weren’t God’s people because they chose to follow Godly living. They were God’s people solely by virtue of faith in God’s promises. Likewise so we are connected to God’s people, regardless of where and when we live, by virtue of God’s promises and faith.
So what this means for me is that I shouldn’t sweat the small stuff. Keep my eyes focused on faith in God’s promises, fulfilled in Christ, and always use this as the lens through which I live my life as a Christian in the here and now. Galatians has taught me that, and of this I am relieved.
See you tomorrow.
Peace:
Pastor J
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